Mongkut

Mongkut

(mông`ko͞ot) or

Rama IV

(räm`ə), 1804–68, king of Siam, now Thailand (1851–68). A devout Buddhist monk, he was displaced in succession to the throne by his brother, who ascended as Rama III. Mongkut became king as Rama IV in 1851, and then used his knowledge, especially of the West, accumulated during his long years of study, to further his country's interests. He established diplomatic relations with several European countries and the United States, opened Siam to Western trade, and undertook extensive internal reform in all fields. Because of these measures, Siam was the only country in Southeast Asia not to fall under Western control in the 19th cent. He was succeeded by his son ChulalongkornChulalongkornor Rama V, 1853–1910, king of Siam (1868–1910). Educated in part by a British governess, Anna Leonowens, and an English tutor, he greatly advanced the Westernization of Siam (present-day Thailand) begun by his father, King Mongkut......Click the link for more information.. Mongkut was made famous in the West by Margaret Landon's book Anna and the King of Siam (1944), which was based on the reminiscences of Anna Leonowens, a British governess at the court of Siam.

The original highlights included the charming "March of the Siamese Children," in which the princes, princesses, wives and concubines of King Mongkut are introduced to their new schoolmistress, and the pivotal "Shall We Dance?

Anyone can do an English-language Google search to learn about Thai "sports and games" (an entry under "S" in this dictionary), but very few people can find the name of the fourth daughter of King Mongkut who may have sponsored three important monasteries or the name of an artist from Southern Thailand who designed funerary urns for local nobles.

They dance together and that's as far as it goes," stage director Richard Jessup says about the musical's two leads - a British governess, Anna, played by Shirley Andress, and King Mongkut of Siam, played by Jay Espa[+ or -]o.

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.